SAN FRANCISCO — The Rockies lost a breathtaking game, lost a road series and lost their prized offseason acquisition to injury.

Those were seagulls circling AT&T Park on Sunday and not vultures, right?

Colorado took a punch to the teeth and a slug to the ribs, falling 5-4 in 10 innings to the Giants on Brandon Crawford's home run just hours after left-hander Brett Anderson was sidelined for potentially six weeks with a fractured left index finger.

"I was just starting to show these guys why they traded for me," Anderson said. "It's hard to believe."

The Rockies' finishes at the China Basin have long strained reality. This one kept the sellout crowd in full throat until the final swing. And, oddly, it could have been worse. At least Crawford's home run cleared the fence. A good matchup for Rex Brothers — lefty on lefty — turned sour when Crawford ambushed a 91 mph fastball. The Giants' 64th splash hit at AT&T Park threw cold water in the Rockies' faces, preventing them from winning their first series in San Francisco since 2010.

"I got it in where I wanted," Brothers said. "But it was up."

Colorado had reason to think it would win, a rare plot twist given its lack of road success. Momentum shifted in the bottom of the ninth. With two outs, Gregor Blanco blasted a high flyball into triples alley in right center. However, Michael Cuddyer dropped the baseball as he retrieved it, sending Blanco racing toward the plate. Last May, Angel Pagan ran the Rockies into a loss with a inside-the-park walk-off home run, the first in the big leagues since 2004.

"The whole time, I was thinking, 'This is not happening again,' " second baseman DJ LeMahieu said.

LeMahieu relayed a strike to catcher Wilin Rosario to cut down Blanco's bold attempt. It only delayed the anguish.

"I really thought it was our game after that," reliever Adam Ottavino said. "The way we came back against (Tim) Hudson ... We never stopped."

Every game in the series was decided by a single run. Manager Walt Weiss praised his team's resiliency but was in no mood for consolation prizes.

The challenge facing the Rockies' rebound this season has become daunting. With Anderson out, Colorado must get ace Jorge De La Rosa right as Jhoulys Chacin, who begins a rehab assignment Tuesday, inches closer to his return April 28 or May 3. De La Rosa is winless in three starts, saddled with a 9.69 ERA. He was able to navigate away from trouble last season but has been at his worst this season with runners on base.

"We believe in him," outfielder Carlos Gonzalez said. "He can be as good as last year. Maybe even better."

Unlike Saturday, when the Rockies won with microball, they relied on thunder in the series finale against Hudson. Rosario and Justin Morneau hit their first homers.

With the Rockies trailing 4-2, Nolan Arenado doubled to lead off the eighth. LeMahieu followed with a similar shot, drawing the Rockies to within a run before Drew Stubbs' at-bat. Weiss made a bold move, pinch-hitting for the sport's hottest hitter, Charlie Blackmon, and Stubbs delivered a single.

"I was prepared to hear it on that one," Weiss said. "But Javy Lopez has been the best in the game, really, getting left-handers out."

The Rockies remained in striking distance because of a reasonable debut by Tyler Chatwood. He worked six innings, displaying no issues with his previously injured left hamstring. Just as he returns, concern has shifted to Anderson.

"It seems like I have a black cloud over me," Anderson said. "Hopefully, it will heal quickly."

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